Nitrendipine kinetics in normal and impaired renal function.

To test the hypothesis that renal failure alters the absorption and metabolism of nitrendipine and the renal elimination of its metabolites, we gave six normal men and 16 men with various degrees of renal dysfunction a single 20 mg oral dose of nitrendipine. Plasma nitrendipine and nitrendipine pyridine analog metabolite concentrations were measured by HPLC 14 times during 48 hours after dosing. The urinary excretion of four additional metabolites was measured. Standing and supine arterial blood pressure was measured 14 times during the 48 hours after dosing. The mean nitrendipine t1/2 was 2.8 +/- 2.1 hours and that of the metabolite was 3.4 +/- 3.9 hours. No significant effect of decreased renal function on any kinetic parameter was demonstrated. Plasma nitrendipine concentrations correlated with decreased blood pressure, but metabolite concentrations did not. We conclude that renal insufficiency does not alter nitrendipine kinetics in man.